Draft:Honest Ideological Dictionary
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Comment: The reader doesn't even get to know if this is a website, a book, or something else, let alone just who said just what about it and just where they said it. Meanwhile, Google seems not to have encountered it. Hoary (talk) 12:04, 22 April 2025 (UTC)
The Honest Ideological Dictionary (HID) is an informal glossary of simplified political and philosophical terms. It aims to provide more accessible language for commonly used ideologies, reframing them in plain English to reflect their practical implications. The dictionary seeks to reduce reliance on academic jargon by introducing alternative terms such as successism, centerism, and familialism. Each entry is intended to present a direct, functional description of an ideology’s real-world behavior.[1]
Purpose
[edit]The Honest Ideological Dictionary was created as a rhetorical and educational tool. Its purpose is to promote public understanding of political language and encourage critical thinking about how ideologies are named and framed.[2] Inspired by works like George Orwell's essays on political language and William Lutz’s critique of doublespeak, HID encourages a more transparent discussion of ideological terms in both public and academic discourse.[3]
Methodology
[edit]Each term in the dictionary is constructed by identifying common patterns in ideological behavior and policy, then assigning a neologism that reflects its practical function rather than its idealized presentation. These simplified terms are not intended to replace formal definitions but to complement them by making abstract concepts more relatable and easier to question.[4]
Core Terms
[edit]| Term | Conventional Equivalent | Simplified Definition |
|---|---|---|
| Successism | Pragmatism | Focus on what works or wins, rather than ideals.[1] |
| Friendism | Cronyism | Favoring friends in decision-making or appointments. |
| Familialism | Nepotism | Giving preference to family members in roles of power. |
| Centerism | Authoritarianism | Centralized authority with limited public input. |
| Competenism | Technocracy | Rule by technical experts and professionals.[5] |
| Profitism | Capitalism | Economic system prioritizing profit above other values.[3] |
| Fameism | Populism | Pursuing popularity over practical or ethical governance. |
| Loyalism | Nationalism | Intense loyalty to the nation, regardless of its actions. |
| Peopleism | Communism | Collective ownership and production for public benefit.[6] |
| Dreamism | Idealism | Pursuit of perfect ideals over practical solutions. |
| Realism | — | Decision-making based on facts and real-world constraints.[4] |
| Orderism | Legalism | Prioritizing rules and structure over justice or context. |
| Chaosism | Anarchism | Rejection of imposed order; belief in spontaneous organization. |
| Thoughtism | Intellectualism | Prioritizing abstract thought over material needs. |
| Imageism | Propaganda | Shaping perception rather than conveying facts. |
Reception and Criticism
[edit]While the HID has been praised for its rhetorical clarity and accessibility, critics argue that such simplification may risk misrepresentation or exaggeration. Academics have expressed concern that reducing ideologies to their perceived functions can foster cynicism or misunderstanding.[7] Nonetheless, supporters contend that HID serves a vital role in demystifying political discourse and encouraging critical literacy.
See also
[edit]- Plain English movement
- Neologism
- Critical theory
- Political satire
- Framing (social sciences)
- Politics and the English Language
References
[edit]- ^ a b Graff, Gerald (2003). Clueless in Academe. Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0300102874.
- ^ Orwell, George (1946). "Politics and the English Language". Horizon.
- ^ a b Lutz, William (1989). Doublespeak. Harper & Row. ISBN 978-0060914491.
- ^ a b Frank, David A. (2009). "The Rhetoric of Simplification". Rhetoric & Public Affairs, 12(3), 479–507.
- ^ Fischer, Frank (1990). Technocracy and the Politics of Expertise. SAGE Publications. ISBN 9780803936892.
- ^ Lakoff, George (2004). Don't Think of an Elephant. Chelsea Green Publishing. ISBN 978-1931498715.
- ^ Berlin, Isaiah (1969). Four Essays on Liberty. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0192810342.